Community Tasting Note

• tward Likes this wine: 93 points

  June 1, 2020 - This is a fantastic wine that has grown better and better over the years. Four+ years ago I compared it to a "decent Cotes de Tablas". Three years ago it was showing its stuff, but showed some alcohol heat. Two years ago it was a beauty, showing complexity and elegance. Though in some ways complexity today might be a bit diminished, it is simply beautiful now. It all builds on the honey and marzipan core, which is at once dense and light. There are various shades of honey, honeycomb, honeysuckle, marzipan, lemon curd (some baking apple pie). So it's really a layered expression of those notes with a long finish. Drank over two nights, first night using Coravin. It was a great pleasure both nights.
  
  The only thing keeping this from "scoring" even higher was an near absence of the spice I like from Roussanne(-based wines). Spice was out there in the background, contributing, but very subtle.
  
  This has enough acid to keep it firmly away from the flabby or blousy characterization, but if I had to be honest, a pinch more acid wouldn't hurt.
  
  Note: I think this last bottle of '12 Esprit Blanc was received as a "library" release in April 2017. So it would have presumably been in ideal cellar conditions from release and then at good conditions upper-50s to mid-60s F for the past few years.

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2 Comments

• KillerJones commented:

  6/2/20, 6:00 PM - Really enjoyed your review! I think these vines are grown from cuttings brought directly from Château de Beauscatel!
  
  Love that west side of Paso...

• tward commented:

  6/2/20, 6:09 PM - You are correct. I believe that all of their cuttings are from Beaucastel. (Perhaps some of the recent additions of minor CdP varietals were not grown at the estate though. I'd have to check their blog.) I've been a happy member for over a decade.

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